"... practicing on Playstation"

Three finishes, three victories: Sébastien Loeb is also dominating the 2008 Rally WC – although at the moment he’s behind in points. Why he could win back the lead in the overall table as early as the Sardinian Rally and why he won’t become a Formula 1 driver any more in this life, he discloses in part one of our interview.

From May 16 to 18 the Sardinian Rally is taking place. Does the track suit you well enough for you to be able to catch up on the five WC points you’ve been trailing by since your unfortunate accident in Jordan?

In the beginning I didn’t really like this rally. The roads were too straight and I didn’t appreciate the driving experience. Last year they made a big effort in improving it. The special stages are larger and better chosen, which has inspired me to go back. The weather is often good in this rally and the quality of life is wonderful.

Does your standard of living also improve when you get compliments on being the Michael Schumacher of rallying?

For sure. It’s flattering to be compared to a big champion like him ... But I still have a bit of work to do to equal his number of titles won!

To be a Schumacher, a Loeb – does that lead to problems with motivation when you reach the point of having won everything once before at some time?

People often ask me this question, but I think I like winning too much to feel a lack of motivation. I simply believe that, should the day come when I’m no longer motivated enough, I’ll stop or do something else. For example, this year we know that clinching a fifth title would be a record, as no-one in rallying has ever done it before. It's motivating!

Marcus Grönholm has always been – to put it crassly – a sting in your ass. You needed all your skills to beat him. Since he’s now retired, is this the season that you’ll be able to breeze to your fifth title in a row?

Yes. Marcus has always been a great rival and I’ve really enjoyed my battles with him. You’re right that especially last year I needed all my skills to beat him. But I knew at the start of the season that it wouldn't be as easy as people thought. For example Latvala has shown great potential and good speed; Hirvonen has experience; Solberg's car is improving, Atkinson seems to be very consistent, and Sordo will be hard to beat on tarmac! So this doesn't make it so comfortable for me, does it?

You’re one of the few rally drivers who’s also quick on closed race circuits. In December 2007 you test-drove a Formula 1 car, how much fun was that?

It was great fun! A wonderful Christmas present for me just before the big day. It's something I’ve always been very interested in trying and we were given the opportunity, so it was really cool. I had some experience in circuit racing with my two races in Le Mans, so it wasn’t totally new to drive a circuit racing car.

Would you consider that a career option, to switch to Formula 1 in maybe in two, three years?

No, I wouldn’t. I’m too old to start with such a demanding discipline!

Before you first competed in Le Mans 2005 there where rumors that you’d prepared yourself by playing Playstation. The truth or just a colorful rumor?

I was actually learning the circuit on the game as I had almost no experience, and it was important for me to practice a bit on that type of machine.

What was the most enjoyable part of Le Mans? Speed, atmosphere or the place on the podium one year later, in 2006?

At the start when you first drive the car, what's most amazing is the speed but also the downforce, which you don't have so much in rallying. Also, it's true that Le Mans is a special race with a unique atmosphere. It's a famous event, but followed by so many kinds of people. Finishing on the podium in 2006 was simply a great experience for me and it felt fantastic that Henri Pescarolo let me have the final run cross the finish line.

What are the main differences between that and a rally: Higher speed? More complex technology? Or is it the greater stress on the body?

Speed in some corners; also driving through traffic, because in rallying you’re alone against the clock. You use different parts and muscles in the body as well, so it's harder. In the beginning I had problems keeping my neck straight and suffered quite a lot back then.

Did you miss your co-pilot Daniel Elena in Le Mans?

No, it was good to have a break from him ... [laughs]. Actually he came to support me both times.

Let’s stay with Daniel for another question: How strong is your relationship? Are you also friends before and after a rally, or is it strictly business?

We work together but we’re also friends. We live five kilometers apart and do things outside of rallies from time to time. He’s a funny guy and has a positive attitude to life.

I found a funny scene from an old Mexico rally on YouTube: Daniel tries to keep the car balanced, which wasn’t easy because you lost your right rear wheel ... Any other funny stories?

Things like this can’t happen any more, as we’re not allowed to drive with three wheels. It’s forbidden by the regulations now, but at the time it wasn’t and we did everything to return to service so our car could be fixed.
One day we also got back from a stage on two wheels (this is actually why the regulations have changed) it was in Greece in 2006 and that was a real adventure. Once we hit a bull (oops, sorry!) on one of the stages in Argentina. It was standing in the middle of the road completely still and I tried to avoid it, but it was too late! The bull fell onto its side, but apparently it was okay, because when the next competitor came along it wasn’t there any more ...